Foam control cooler for beverages



Nov. 15, 1938.

A. HERGOTT FOAM CONTROL COOLER FOR BEVERAGE Filed March 10, 1957 INVENTOR.'-

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ORNEY.

Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OIFFIC'IEIF Albert Hergott, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Application March 10, 1937, Serial No. 130,166 In Canada March 24, 1936 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in a foam control cooler for beverages such as beer, ale or the like in which a dispensing liquid container fed from a supply tank, barrel or drum is positioned in a chest containing a cooling agent, preferably cracked ice, which by its contact with the container chills the liquid therein.

It is the cardinal object of the invention to provide a combined closure head, and mounting means for support of beer containers within a cooling chamber.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a closure'head and mounting means which may be quickly removed and replaced upon the beer l5 container.

Other objects, and advantages will appear in the following description of the preferred embodiment of my invention in accordance with the appended drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of the cooler connected to a spiral block-tin coil.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of a modified form of cooler showing the spiral coil encircling the container and illustrating the connection with the inlet of the cooler.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the clamp bracket.

Like symbols of reference denote similar and corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

The cooler consists of a beer container (I) of circular shaped steel, welded so as to be leakproof, and has a stainless glass or enamel upon the inside, though not necessarily so in all cases.

They are built in two or more sizes; 3 by 6" in width and 12" to 24" in height, so that they can be installed in cooling cabinets in use at the present time. In the present instance two brass castings (2D and 23) are fastened to the upper side of the container with a lock nut, to be leakproof where the beer enters into the container and forming the outlet for the liquid to the faucet.

The upper end of the container (I) is provided with a ring fitting (I5), having a circular seat I5a adapted to engage a groove I5b formed in the adjacent end of the container I. The ring includes parallel apertured arms receiving a clamp bolt I6, by means of which the ring fitting I5 is secured to the container. The open end of the container receives a head I2 therein, a rubber gasket I3 being interposed therebetween, for the purpose of effecting a seal, as will be explained. The head I2 is provided with peripheral spaced apertured ears I la adapted to register with threaded apertures I Ib formed in the ring I5,

and through aligned apertures a thumb screw I4 is engaged. Obviously, the head I2 may bedrawn into snug engagement with the open end of the container. Other means of sealing the head may be employed, if desired, but I prefer that just described. The head I2 is primarily more or less of the disc type, having a downwardly extending boss IE) with an integral threaded nipple to engage with the threaded bore of a cage 6. A second boss 9 lies directly over that first-named, 10 and a hole II is drilled through both to form a vent from the inside to the outside of the container I.

The cage 6 provides guiding means and support for a rod 5 directly in line with the vent as 15 shown. To the lower end of plunger 5 is mounted a float-bell or ball 4 as shown adapted to be raised and held in its uppermost position by the liquid in container I when the same is up to a predetermined level, causing rod 5 to close vent I I, 20 and to open the vent when the liquid is below the said level. The bell-float or ball 4 is connected with rod 5, (as shown) the ball or bell, in either case, being of the required lightness. A

In the head shown in Figure 1, a whistle I8 is 5 threaded in the upper boss 9 of the head, and a boss and stop is threaded therein for obvious reasons, such as for flushing the apparatus. A bracket I1 is fastened to wall of refrigerant chest to hold container in position and is adjustably 30 connected with the ring I5.

Substantially at the top of the container Figure 1 is a connection 22 intended to receive the end 3 of the coil 24, the other end leads downwardly to a connection 25 on the supply tank, in 35 the present illustration it being a barrel 28 (see Figure 2).

Connection 25 is provided with a pipe 29 extending to the bottom of the tank or barrel 28, and is further provided with the usual air inlet 40 2B. The inlet 3 opens into the container I, and a pipe 2 leading up from the inside of the container passes through the fitting 23 to the dispensing faucet, or faucets (not shown).

The container and components are as a whole 45 placed in a cooling chest (not shown).

In operation, after making connection with a full barrel, air under pressure will be admitted thereto by connection 26. This will cause liquid to flow therefrom upwardly through coil 24 and 50 into the container I. As there is then no medium to float-bell 4, air in the container I will be allowed to escape through the vent II and whistle I8 so that it will not be necessary to let the same exhaust through the dispensing faucet. 55

However, when the liquid reaches the height where it will lift the float, it is evident that the latter will cause rod 5 to become in contact with boss III and close the vent. This will result in the accumulation of pressure in the system and force the liquid upwardly through the pipe 2, to the dispensing faucet. As liquid is dispensed from the lower part of the container, the coldest will always be available and the container will be replenished through coil 24, when the supply is exhausted, the float will obviously fall, opening vent 8 and allowing compressed air from the barrel to pass through the whistle giving proper signal that the supply tank is empty.

In order to prevent any objectionable matter from entering a vent which might clog or interfere with proper working of a valve and whistle, suitable straining medium 8 will be provided in connection with cage 6 so as to prevent such matter from entering same.

In Figure 2, the coil 24a is shown as partly encircling the container l, the exhaust pipe 2a and inlet 3a entering the container I, through fittings 23 and 2|, respectively.

While I have described my invention strictly in accordance with the embodiment shown, it is to be noted and understood that changes such as required to suit the process of manufacture of the device as Well as to serve special requirements may be made as will fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of my claim.

I claim:-

In a device of the character described, a con- .tainer having an open end, said end having an exterior annular groove, a clamp ring engaged within the groove, a mounting bracket adjustably associated with the ring for mounting of the container within a cooling chamber, a closure head for the container, the clamp ring and head having registered apertures for reception of clamping screws, float controlled air-vent means carried by the head, and liquid inlet and outlet 20 pipes connected with the container.

ALBERT HERGOTI'. 

